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Protective Sealants

Your NW Calgary Choice for
Protective Sealants!

Toothville Family Dentistry is pleased to offer protective sealants, which can help your child avoid the needless discomfort and possible pain of tooth decay as well as the financial cost involved in treating it.

Children's Dentistry | Toothville Family Dentistry | NW Calgary | General Dentist

Sealants Can Protect
Important Teeth

The molars (back teeth) contain indentations and ridges that may not be reached by your child’s toothbrush. Due to this, your molars are potential “hotspots” for active tooth decay. At Toothville, we use dental sealants help protect these teeth from further decay. This is especially important when your child finally has their permanent molars emerge.

That is why we recommend having sealants applied to these teeth prior to decay setting in. Doing this can save unnecessary time, pain, and expense as sealants can help you to avoid the procedures needed to fix teeth suffering from active tooth decay.

When Are Dental Sealants Placed?

The first dental sealant to be placed is usually on the fissure of the first permanent molar tooth, once the chewing surface of the tooth has erupted completely beyond the gum. This tooth grows in behind the baby teeth. If the chewing (occlusal) surfaces of these teeth are sealed, the dental sealant will help protect the tooth. Except for the wisdom teeth, which come through much later, the molars and premolars continue to erupt until eleven-thirteen years of age and the chewing surfaces of these teeth can be sealed after they have erupted beyond the gum.

Can dental sealants be place on the teeth of adults?

Yes — while less common, dental sealants are sometimes placed in adults at risk for caries, on deep grooves and fissures that do not already have fillings or dental sealants.

What do dental sealants look like?

Dental sealants can be clear, white or have a slight tint depending upon the dental sealant used.

How are dental sealants placed?

Firstly the tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned with a paste and rotating brush by your dentist or hygienist. Next the tooth is washed with water and dried. Then a solution that is acidic is placed on the fissured area of the tooth’s chewing surface for a number of seconds before being rinsed off. This creates small microscopic areas and a fine rougher surface than the surrounding tooth enamel, that can be seen with a microscope. The rough surface and microscopic areas enable the dental sealant to attach to the tooth. After the tooth is dried again, the liquid dental sealant is placed on the tooth and hardened. Dental sealants are hardened by using a light that hardens the dental sealant, or sometimes by using a two-component dental sealant that sets without using a light. Once the dental sealant has hardened it becomes a hard plastic varnish coating, and you can chew on the tooth again.

How long does a dental sealant last?

Dental sealants have been used and have been proven to be effective since the 1970s. Many studies have shown that they are effective in helping to prevent decay on chewing (occlusal) surfaces. Dental sealants can last many years. If necessary, it is also possible to place a new dental sealant on the tooth.

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We look forward to hearing from you soon. Call Toothville Family Dentistry
at (587) 755-6688 to set up a sealant appointment today!